Episode #13 – Eric L. Watts – The Man… behind the Fan (Part 1 of 2).

Eric L. Watts – Founder and Chairman of TreklantaEric L. Watts, pictured left in a publicity photo for the United Federation of Trekkers taken in 1983, and pictured right as Korgoth the Klingon in 2015.Eric L. Watts talking to LeVar Burton and Marina Sirtis on The TrekTrak Show at Dragon*Con in 2005.

If you have any questions for our guest we will gladly forward them to him, but we cannot guarantee a response. Send any questions from this episode to nerdblisspod@gmail.comwith “ELW Question” in the subject line.

Topics:

Introduction and the chosen title of Chairman

Theatre and music background

Fanzines and fandoms outside of Star Trek and college years

It all started with Wild Wild West, Batman, and Star Trek after school.

A magazine called All About Star Trek Fan Clubs and the discovery of Dorothy Dillon.

The first dive into fanzines and fan fiction, including Spock Enslaved. (See link below for t’hy’la.)

Gene Roddenberry and why there were no gay characters in Star Trek.

Eric’s first Star Trek convention.

The convention aftermath. Now what? The United Federation of Trekkers.

The move from Columbia, SC to Atlanta, GA.

Trekkie vs Trekker settled once and for all.

The Original Series vs The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine vs Babylon 5

Voyager, some gutsy commentary on casting, and Tuvok’s penchant for fucking up the mind meld.